A family of long reiterated DNA sequences, one copy of which is next to the human beta globin gene.

An unusually long repeated DNA sequence was identified in cloned DNA, three kb 3' to the human beta-globin gene. Other members of this repeated sequence family were isolated from a human genomic DNA library and characterized by Southern blotting techniques, electron microscopy, and solution hybridization. The copy located next to the beta-globin gene was found to be 6.4 +/- 0.2 kb long and continuous over that length. This repeated sequence family comprises about 1% of the human genome and contains 3000-4800 copies of moderate sequence divergence which are interspersed with other less-highly repeated DNA. The 6.4 kb repeated unit does not appear to be composed of any smaller tandemly repeated subunits, nor is it expressed at a high level in bone marrow cell RNA.     

Pattern recognition in the neocognitron is improved by neuronal adaptation

We demonstrate that equipping the neurons of Fukushima's neocognitron with the phenomenon that a neuron decreases its activity when repeatedly stimulated (adaptation) markedly improves the pattern discriminatory power of the network. By means of adaptation, circuits for extracting discriminating features develop preferentially. In the original neocognitron, in contrast, features shared by different patterns are preferentially learned, as connections required for extracting them are more frequently reinforced.     

Ecological restoration of aquatic and semi-aquatic ecosystems in the Netherlands: an introduction*

Hydrobiologia - In 1989, a symposium was held under the title `Netherlands-Wetlands', aiming at the presentation of the state of the art of the existing knowledge of structure and functioning...     

Differences in human alpha-, beta- and delta-globin gene expression in monkey kidney cells

We have compared the function of the human alpha-, beta- and delta-globin genes using various plasmid expression vectors derived from pBR322. Amplification of recombinants occurred after their introduction, by calcium-phosphate-mediated DNA transfer, into monkey kidney cells that constitutively produce T antigen (COS cells). The human alpha-globin gene promoter functioned independently, but the beta-globin gene promoter was nearly totally dependent on the enhancing activity of the 72 bp direct repeats from the SV40 genome. Furthermore, when the human alpha- and beta-globin genes were linked in the same vector, the alpha promoter was active but the beta promoter was not. Function of the delta-globin gene promoter also depended on the enhancer element. In vectors containing the 72 bp repeats and the beta- or delta-globin gene, the activity of the beta-globin gene was approximately 50 times greater than that of the delta-globin gene, approximating the ratio of beta and delta mRNA observed in normal human bone marrow cells.     

Hemoglobin switching in sheep: commitment of erythroid stem cells to expression of the betaC-globin gene and accumulation of betaC-globin mRNA

The switch from HbA (α₂β₂^A) to HbC (α₂β₂^C) synthesis was induced by injection of erythropoietin into a lamb homozygous for HbA. Serial samples of bone marrow were analyzed to detect the initial commitment of erythroid stem cells (CFU-E) to form colonies which made HbC in vitro, and to detect the initial accumulation of β^C-globin mRNA and the onset of HbC synthesis in erythroblasts in vivo. CFU-E-derived erythroid colonies were formed in plasma clot culture at a low erythropoietin concentration, and the relative amounts of β^A- and β^C-globin synthesized were determined after a 24 hr pulse of ³H-leucine, added after 84 hr in culture. RNA was extracted from nuclei and cytoplasm of “early” and “late” populations of bone marrow erythroblasts which had been fractionated by Ficoll-Hypaque density centrifugation. The concentration of β^A- and β^C-globin mRNA was determined by annealing to purified synthetic DNAs (cDNAs) complementary to β^A and β^C mRNA. No β^C-globin was synthesized in erythroblasts or in CFU-E-derived erythroid colonies prior to the injection of erythropoietin. An increase in the concentration of CFU-E in the bone marrow and the appearance of β^C-globin synthesis in CFU-E-derived colonies were detected 12 hr after the erythropoietin injection. In contrast, β^C mRNA was not detected in either “early” or “late” erythroid cells until 36 hr later. The first measurable β^C-globin mRNA was accompanied by the appearance of β^C-globin synthesis in bone marrow erythroblasts. Our results suggest that the accumulation of β^C-globin mRNA is a relatively late event following induction of HbA to HbC switching by erythropoietin. The expansion of the compartment of erythroid stem cells and the commitment of CFU-E to β^C-globin synthesis appear to precede the detectable accumulation of β^C mRNA by 24–36 hr.     

The state of the art of aquatic and semi-aquatic ecological restoration projects in the Netherlands*

The Netherlands are a small, low-lying delta in W. Europe (42000 km²; 50°–54° N; 3°–8° E), mainly consisting of alluvial deposits from the North Sea and from the large rivers Rhine and Meuse. The country was `created by man'. The conversion of natural aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems into drained agricultural land was a major cultural operation over the past 1000 years. Roughly 55% of the country's surface area is still agricultural land. Some decades ago, The Netherlands' landscape was characterised by an armoured coastline and bridled estuaries, a drastically reduced area of saline and freshwater marshes, fully regulated rivers and streams, and numerous artificial lakes. The aquatic ecosystems beyond the influence of the large rivers, the Pleistocene raised bogs and moor lands, have almost been completely annihilated in the past. Acidification and eutrophication led to the deterioration of the remaining softwater lake vegetation. Last but not least, an artificial drainage system was constructed, leading to an unnatural water table all over the country, high in summer, low in winter. Only very recently, some 25 years ago, the tide has been turned and ecological rehabilitation and restoration of disturbed ecosystems are in full swing now, enhanced by the European Union policy to set aside agricultural land in the Netherlands in favour of the development of `nature'. The state of the art of aquatic and semi-aquatic ecological restoration projects in the Netherlands is given. Starting from the conceptual basis of restoration ecology, the successes and failures of hundreds of restoration projects are given. Numerous successful projects are mentioned. In general, ecological restoration endeavours are greatly benefiting from progressive experience in the course of the years. Failures mainly occur by insufficient application of physical, chemical or ecological principles. The spontaneous colonisation by plants and animals, following habitat reconstruction, is preferred. But sometimes the re-introduction of keystone species (e.g. eelgrass; salmon; beaver) is necessary in case the potential habitats are isolated or fragmented, or when a seed bank is lacking, thus not allowing viable populations to develop. Re-introduction of traditional management techniques (e.g. mowing without fertilisation; low intensity grazing) is important to rehabilitate the semi-natural and cultural landscapes, so characteristic for the Netherlands. For aquatic ecosystems proper (estuaries, rivers, streams, larger lakes) the rule of thumb is that re-establishment of the abiotic habitat conditions is a pre-requisite for the return of the target species. This implies rehabilitation of former hydrological end geomorphological conditions, and an increase in spatial heterogeneity. The `bottom-up' technique of lake restoration, viz. reduction in nutrient loadings, and removal of nutrient-rich organic sediment, is the preferred strategy. The `top-down' approach of curing eutrophicated ecosystems, that is drastic reduction of fish stock, mainly bream, and introduction of carnivorous fish, may be considered as complementary. For semi-aquatic ecosystems (river-fed and rain-fed peat moors, brook valleys, coastal dune slacks) it also counts that the abiotic constraints should be lifted, but here the species-oriented conservation strategy, the enhancement of the recovery of characteristic plant and animal species, is mainly followed. An important pre-requisite for the rehabilitation of the original natural or semi-natural